limpse into the distracted effete interior of the
poor old Reich and its Politics, with friends of ours concerned there,
let it be welcome to the reader. [_Leopoldi von Anhalt-Dessau Leben_ (by
Ranfft), p. 127; Buchholz, i. 131.]

Friedrich Wilhelm was without concern in this War, or in what had led
to it. Practical share in the Polish Election (after that preliminary
theoretic program of the Kaiser's and Czarina's went to smoke) Friedrich
Wilhelm steadily refused to take: though considerable offers were made
him on both sides,--offer of West Preussen (Polish part of Prussia,
which once was known to us) on the French side. [By De la Chetardie,
French Ambassador at Berlin (Buchholz, i. 130).] But his primary fixed
resolution was to stand out of the quarrel; and he abides by
that; suppresses any wishes of his own in regard to the Polish
Election;--keeps ward on his own frontiers, with good military besom in
hand, to sweep it out again if it intruded there. "What King you like,
in God's name; only don't come over my threshold with his brabbles and
him!"

But seeing the Kaiser got into actual French War, with the Reich
consenting, he is bound, by Treaty of old date (date older than
WUSTERHAUSEN, though it was confirmed on that famous occasion), "To
assist the Kaiser with ten thousand men;" and this engagement he intends
amply to fulfil. No sooner, therefore, had the Reich given sure signs of
assenting ("Reich's assent" is the condition of the ten thousand),
than Friedrich Wilhelm's orders were out, "Be in readiness!" Friedrich
Wilhelm, by the time of the Reich's actual assent, or Declaration of
War on the Kaiser's behalf, has but to lift his finger: squadrons and
battalions, out of Pommern, out of Magdeburg, out of Preussen, to the
due amount, will get on march whitherward you bid, and be with you
there at the day you indicate, almost at the hour. Captains, not of an
imaginary nature, these are always busy; and the King himself is
busy over them. From big guns and wagon-horses down to gun-flints and
gaiter-straps, all is marked in registers; nothing is wanting, nothing
out of its place at any time, in Friedrich Wilhelm's Army.

From an early period, the French intentions upon Philipsburg might be
foreseen or guessed: and in the end of March, Marechal Berwick, "in
three divisions," fairly appears in that quarter; his purpose evident.
So that the Reich's-Army, were it in the least ready, ought to
rendezvous, and reinforce